Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Plant of the Month: Shantung Maple

The Shantung Maple (Acer
truncatum) is also known as the Purple Blow Maple due to the color of
its newly emerging leaves which are red-purple (see photo below). These young expanding
red-purple leaves change to green as they mature. Leaves are small, about the
size of Japanese Red Maple leaves, perhaps 3’-4’ wide at maturity.

The Shantung Maple grows
1′-2′ annually reaching 25″ tall and wide.This is our tree for all planting situations. This Maple does well in
heavy clay, sandy soils, full sun, or part shade. It can be planted in a
lawn or next to a hot asphalt street (see photo below). It seemingly is a happy tree enjoying
life wherever it is placed. One place we
would not recommend planting this tree is in a rockscape which is just too hot
and inhospitable to support this beautiful tree.

A smaller tree, the
Shantung Maple can be planted closer to structures. Its fall color is a
brilliant golden yellow. The Shantung Maple produces a winged fruit called a
samara (see photo below). Kids call these helicopter seeds because when thrown into the air they
fall spinning to the ground like helicopter blades. The Shantung Maple is best
grown with low to regular water and is hardy to USDA Zone 4.

The Shantung Maple has a rich green canopy that produces a nice
dark cooling shade inviting you outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and spend time
in your yard (see photo below). The Shantung Maple would make a great addition
to your landscape. Come by the nursery to see our selection of Shantung Maples,
all grown from seed collected locally from specimen trees.